Battery tray and vehicle

ABSTRACT

A battery tray and a vehicle include a frame structure including a plurality of frames sequentially connected end to end arranged to be connected to the vehicle, and a base plate structure including an inner base plate and a reinforcing beam, wherein the inner base plate is located on an inner side of the reinforcing beam and arranged for mounting a battery module. The battery tray further includes a reinforcing block, wherein the reinforcing block is connected to a corresponding frame and the reinforcing beam in a matching mode, so as to fixedly connect the reinforcing beam to the frame structure through the reinforcing block. In the battery tray, the strength of the battery tray can be enhanced and a total weight can be decreased only by using the reinforcing block to fixedly connect the reinforcing beam to the frame structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/133,594 filed on Dec. 23, 2020, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/CN2019/114038, filed on Oct. 29, 2019.The International Application claims priority to Chinese PatentApplication No. 201821967959.2, filed on Nov. 27, 2018. The disclosuresof the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated by referencein their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The application relates to the field of electric vehicles, and inparticular to a battery tray and a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

In the art of electric vehicles, a battery tray is configured to mountand accommodate a battery module and generally includes a framestructure and a reinforcing structure. At present, in order to enhancethe strength of the battery tray, the generally-used means is toincrease thicknesses of the frame structure and the reinforcingstructure of the battery tray, resulting in the increase of a weight,however, the increase of the weight makes the strength enhancement andthe weight decrease mutually-constrained factors, and therefore it isdifficult to realize the lightweight while the strength of the batterytray is enhanced.

SUMMARY

In consideration of the defects of the prior art, an objective of theapplication is to provide a battery tray and a vehicle, through whichthe strength of the battery tray could be enhanced and a total weightcan be decreased.

In order to realize the above-mentioned objective, the applicationprovides a battery tray. The battery tray includes a frame structureincluding a plurality of frames sequentially connected end to endarranged to be connected to a vehicle, and a base plate structureincluding an inner base plate and a reinforcing beam, wherein the innerbase plate is located on an inner side of the reinforcing beam andarranged for mounting a battery module, and the inner base plate and thereinforcing beam are fixed inside the frame structure. The battery trayfurther includes a reinforcing block, wherein a first end of thereinforcing block is connected to a corresponding frame in a matchingmode, and a second end of the reinforcing block is connected to thereinforcing beam in a matching mode, so as to fixedly connect thereinforcing beam to the frame structure through the reinforcing block.

In one embodiment, the first end of the reinforcing block is connectedto the corresponding frame in a concave-convex fit mode.

In one embodiment, the first end of the reinforcing block is providedwith a first step portion, a first groove is formed in the first stepportion, and the corresponding frame is provided with a first protrusionmatching the first groove.

In one embodiment, the second end of the reinforcing block is connectedto an end of the reinforcing beam in a concave-convex fit mode.

In one embodiment, the second end of the reinforcing block is providedwith a second upper step portion, a second upper groove is formed in thesecond upper step portion, and the end of the reinforcing beam isprovided with a second upper protrusion matching the second uppergroove.

In one embodiment, the second end of the reinforcing block is furtherprovided with a second lower step portion, a second lower groove isformed in the second lower step portion, and the end of the reinforcingbeam is provided with a second lower protrusion matching the secondlower groove.

In one embodiment, a top surface of the reinforcing block is flush witha top surface of the reinforcing beam provided with the second upperprotrusion, and the top surface of the reinforcing block is flush with atop surface of the frame provided with the first protrusion.

In one embodiment, a bottom surface of the reinforcing block is flushwith a bottom surface of the reinforcing beam provided with the secondlower protrusion, and the bottom surface of the reinforcing block isflush with a bottom surface of the frame provided with the firstprotrusion.

In one embodiment, the inner base plate is provided with a plurality ofinner recesses arranged to accommodate the battery module.

In one embodiment, a plurality of reinforcing beams are arranged; andthe base plate structure further includes a support beam connectedbetween two adjacent reinforcing beams.

In order to realize the above-mentioned objective, the applicationfurther provides a vehicle. The vehicle includes a battery tray and abattery module, wherein the battery tray is the battery tray in any ofthe above-mentioned embodiments, the battery tray is connected to thevehicle, and the battery module is mounted at the battery tray.

The beneficial effects of the application are as follows:

in the battery tray of the application, it is not needed to process theframe structure and the reinforcing beam as in the background art, andsince a size and a weight of the reinforcing block are much smaller thanthose of the frame structure and the reinforcing beam, compared with amode that the frame structure and the reinforcing beam are thickened inthe background art, a weight is decreased only by using the reinforcingblock to fixedly connect the reinforcing beam to the frame structure;and therefore, compared with the background art, the strength of thebattery tray is enhanced and the total weight is decreased, so as toprevent the strength enhancement and the weight decrease from becomingmutually-constrained factors as in the background art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a stereogram of one embodiment of a battery tray of theapplication;

FIG. 2 is an exploded stereogram of the battery tray in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the battery tray in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an assembly stereogram of a frame structure, and an outer baseplate, a reinforcing beam and a support beam of a base plate structureof the battery tray in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an assembly stereogram of the frame structure and the baseplate structure of the battery tray in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an assembly stereogram of the frame structure, and the outerbase plate and the reinforcing beam of the base plate structure of thebattery tray in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial stereogram of part A in FIG. 6, in which two framesin a state before assembly are illustrated;

FIG. 8 is a partial stereogram of the part A in FIG. 6, in which the twoframes in a state after assembly are illustrated;

FIG. 9 is a partial stereogram of part B in FIG. 6, in which a frame, areinforcing block and a reinforcing beam of the battery tray in a statebefore assembly are illustrated; and

FIG. 10 is a partial stereogram of the part B in FIG. 6, in which theframe, the reinforcing block and the reinforcing beam of the batterytray in a state after assembly are illustrated.

In the figures, the description of the reference numerals is as follows:

1 frame structure 24 outer base plate 11 frame 3 reinforcing block 111first protrusion 31 first end 112A top surface 32 second end 112B bottomsurface 33 first step portion 113 matching step 331 first groove 2 baseplate structure 34A second upper step portion 21 inner base plate 341Asecond upper groove 211 inner recess 34B second lower step portion 22reinforcing beam 341B second lower groove 221A second upper protrusion35A top surface 221B second lower protrusion 35B bottom surface 222A topsurface R rivet 222B bottom surface S bush 23 support beam

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the embodiments of the application,it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merelyexamples of the application that may be implemented in various forms,and therefore, the specific details disclosed herein should not beconstrued as limiting, but merely serve as a basis for the claims and asan indicative basis for teaching those of ordinary skill in the art toimplement the application in various ways.

A battery tray of the application may be configured to accommodate abattery module.

The battery module (not shown) includes a plurality of batteriesassembled together side by side. The battery may be a hard shell battery(or called as a tank type battery) or a soft package battery (or calledas a bag type battery). The hard shell battery includes an electrodeassembly, a housing, a top cover, poles, an injection hole, anexplosion-proof valve and the like. An accommodating cavity is formedinside the housing, to accommodate the electrode assembly and anelectrolyte. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode plate,a negative electrode plate and a barrier isolating the positiveelectrode plate from the negative electrode plate. The electrodeassembly can winding the positive electrode plate, the negativeelectrode plate and the barrier or stack the positive electrode plate,the negative electrode plate and the barrier. Each of the positiveelectrode plate and the negative electrode plate includes a currentcollector and an active substance layer arranged on the currentcollector. The soft package battery includes a packaging bag (forexample, formed by an aluminum-plastic film), an electrode assembly(with the constitution and formation similar to those of the hard shellbattery) and tabs. Parts of the tab is packaged in the packaging bag andthe other part thereof extends out of the packaging bag. The tab may bedirectly formed by an electrode plate or uses an independent conductivematerial and is electrically connected to the current collector.

FIG. 1 is a stereogram of one embodiment of the battery tray of theapplication; FIG. 2 is an exploded stereogram of the battery tray inFIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a top view of the battery tray in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is anassembly stereogram of a frame structure, and an outer base plate, areinforcing beam and a support beam of a base plate structure of thebattery tray in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is an assembly stereogram of the framestructure and the base plate structure of the battery tray in FIG. 1;FIG. 6 is an assembly stereogram of the frame structure, and the outerbase plate and the reinforcing beam of the base plate structure of thebattery tray in FIG. 1; FIG. 7 is a partial stereogram of part A in FIG.6, in which two frames in a state before assembly are illustrated; FIG.8 is a partial stereogram of the part A in FIG. 6, in which the twoframes in a state after assembly are illustrated; FIG. 9 is a partialstereogram of part B in FIG. 6, in which a frame, a reinforcing blockand a reinforcing beam of the battery tray in a state before assemblyare illustrated; and FIG. 10 is a partial stereogram of the part B inFIG. 6, in which the frame, the reinforcing block and the reinforcingbeam of the battery tray in a state after assembly are illustrated.

The battery tray of the application includes the frame structure 1, thebase plate structure 2 and the reinforcing block 3.

The frame structure 1 includes a plurality of frames 11 sequentiallyconnected end to end arranged to be connected to a vehicle. In order todecrease a weight of the whole battery tray, the frame structure 1 ismade of an aluminum profile, and the frame structure 1 may be of ahollow structure. In order to make an upper surface of the frame 11flush with a lower surface thereof, refer to FIGS. 6-8, an end of theframe 11 may be provided with a matching step 113, and all the frames 11match one another through the matching steps 113 at the ends. Thematching steps 113 at the ends of all the frames 11 correspondinglymatch one another and are fixed together in a welding mode.

The base plate structure 2 includes an inner base plate 21 and thereinforcing beam 22. The base plate structure 2 further includes thesupport beam 23 and the outer base plate 24.

The inner base plate 21 is made of a steel sheet, an aluminum sheet andthe like. In order to increase a space utilization rate, the inner baseplate 21 is provided with a plurality of inner recesses 211 arranged toaccommodate the battery module. The plurality of recesses 211 are formedby stamping the inner base plate 21. The inner base plate 21 is locatedon an inner side of the reinforcing beam 22 and arranged for mountingthe battery module, and the inner base plate 21 is fixed inside theframe structure 1. The inner base plate 21 is fixed inside the framestructure 1 in a detachable connection mode (for example, riveting,gluing or threaded connection), so as to reduce the welding deformationcaused by a welding fixation mode.

The reinforcing beam 22 is made of an aluminum profile, so as toguarantee a light weight, a high lightness degree and a low cost. Thereinforcing beam 22 is fixed inside the frame structure 1. In order toenhance the strength, a plurality of reinforcing beams 22 are arranged.

If the inner base plate 21 needs to bear a force in the use process, inorder to enhance the strength, the support beam 23 is connected betweentwo adjacent reinforcing beams 22. The support beam 23 is made of analuminum profile, so as to guarantee a light weight, a high lightnessdegree and a low cost. The number of the support beam/support beams 23between two adjacent reinforcing beams 22 may be set to one or more onthe basis of the strength requirement.

The outer base plate 24 is fixed inside the frame structure 1 andlocated on an outer side of the reinforcing beam 22. The outer baseplate 24 is made of an aluminum sheet, a skin and the like. The outerbase plate 24 is preferably the skin, so as to decrease a total weight.The outer base plate 24 is fixed inside the frame structure 1 in adetachable connection mode (for example, riveting, gluing or threadedconnection), so as to reduce the welding deformation caused by a weldingfixation mode. In the embodiments shown in the figures, the base platestructure 2 enhances, through the combination between the inner baseplate 21 and the outer base plate 24, the structural strength, to copewith the situations of collision, impact and the like. The inner baseplate 21 and the frame structure 1 are fixedly connected together byusing rivets R, and bushes S are further used at some parts needing thefixation reinforcement to realize the interference fit between the innerbase plate 21 and the frame structure 1, so as to reduce the wear. Theouter base plate 24 and the frame structure 1 are fixedly connectedtogether through gluing.

The reinforcing block 3 is made of an aluminum profile, so as toguarantee a light weight, a high lightness degree and a low cost. Afirst end 31 of the reinforcing block 3 is connected to a correspondingframe 11 in a matching mode, and a second end 32 of the reinforcingblock 3 is connected to the reinforcing beam 22 in a matching mode, soas to fixedly connect the reinforcing beam 22 to the frame structure 1through the reinforcing block 3. For one reinforcing beam 22, the numberof the reinforcing blocks 3 may be two, first ends 31 of the tworeinforcing blocks 3 are separately connected to corresponding frames 11in a matching mode, and second ends 32 of the two reinforcing blocks 3separately correspond to two ends of a reinforcing beam 22 and areconnected to the same in a matching mode. The first end 31 of thereinforcing block 3 is arranged to be connected to the correspondingframe 11 through friction stir welding, and the second end 32 of thereinforcing block 3 is arranged to be connected to an end of thecorresponding reinforcing beam 22 through friction stir welding. Thefriction stir welding process is low in thermal deformation, small inresidual stress and high in welding quality. After friction stirwelding, due to the characteristics of the welding process,difficult-to-distinguish solid joints are formed between the reinforcingblock 3 and each of the corresponding frame 11 and the reinforcing beam22, instead of what is shown in FIG. 10 that matching connectionrelations of various structures among the reinforcing block 3, thecorresponding frame 11 and the reinforcing beam 22 can be clearly seen.

Particularly, take one reinforcing block 3 for the description, a firstend 31 of the reinforcing block 3 is connected to a corresponding frame11 in a concave-convex fit mode, so as to make positioning accurate andconnection stable. The first end 31 of the reinforcing block 3 isprovided with a first step portion 33, a first groove 331 is formed inthe first step portion 33, and the corresponding frame 11 is providedwith a first protrusion 111 matching the first groove 331. A second end32 of the reinforcing block 3 is connected to an end of a reinforcingbeam 22 in a concave-convex fit mode, so as to make positioning accurateand connection stable. The second end 32 of the reinforcing block 3 isprovided with a second upper step portion 34A, a second upper groove341A is formed in the second upper step portion 34A, and the end of thereinforcing beam 22 is provided with a second upper protrusion 221Amatching the second upper groove 341A. The second end 32 of thereinforcing block 3 is further provided with a second lower step portion34B, a second lower groove 341B is formed in the second lower stepportion 34B, and the end of the reinforcing beam 22 is provided with asecond lower protrusion 221B matching the second lower groove 341B. Bymeans of this above-mentioned matching connection mode between the firstgroove 331 and the first protrusion 111, between the second upper groove341A and the second upper protrusion 221A, and between the second lowergroove 341B and the second lower protrusion 221B, positioning isaccurate and connection is stable, thereby improving the overallstrength of the battery tray.

In order to facilitate mounting, positioning and machining, a topsurface 35A of the reinforcing block 3 is flush with a top surface 222A,provided with the second upper protrusion 221A, of the reinforcing beam22, and the top surface 35A of the reinforcing block 3 is flush with atop surface 112A, provided with the first protrusion 111, of the frame11; and a bottom surface 35B of the reinforcing block 3 is flush with abottom surface 222B, provided with the second lower protrusion 221B, ofthe reinforcing beam 22, and the bottom surface 35B of the reinforcingblock 3 is flush with a bottom surface 112B, provided with the firstprotrusion 111, of the frame 11.

In the battery tray of the application, it is not needed to process theframe structure 1 and the reinforcing beam 2 as in the background art,and since a size and a weight of the reinforcing block 3 are muchsmaller than those of the frame structure 1 and the reinforcing beam 2,compared with a mode that the frame structure 1 and the reinforcing beam2 are thickened in the background art, the weight is decreased only byusing the reinforcing block 3 to fixedly connect the reinforcing beam 22to the frame structure 1; and therefore, compared with the backgroundart, the strength of the battery tray is enhanced and the total weightis decreased, so as to prevent the strength enhancement and the weightdecrease from becoming mutually-constrained factors as in the backgroundart.

A vehicle of the application includes a battery tray and a batterymodule, wherein the battery module is mounted at the battery tray, aframe 11 of a frame structure 1 of the battery tray is connected to thevehicle, and an inner base plate 21 of a base plate structure 2 mountsthe battery module.

The detailed description above describes a plurality of exemplaryembodiments, but it is not intended to be limited to an explicitlydisclosed combination herein. Hence, unless otherwise indicated, variousfeatures disclosed herein may be combined together to form a pluralityof additional combinations which are not shown for an objective ofsimplicity.

What is said above is merely the preferred embodiments of theapplication, but is not used for limiting the application, and for aperson skilled in the air, the application may have various alterationsand changes. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvementsand the like made within the spirit and principle of the applicationshould all fall within the scope of protection of the application.

What is claimed is:
 1. A battery tray, comprising: a frame structure,comprising a plurality of frames sequentially connected end to end, andarranged to be connected to a vehicle; and a base plate structure,comprising an inner base plate and a reinforcing beam, the inner baseplate being located on an inner side of the reinforcing beam andarranged for mounting a battery module, and the inner base plate and thereinforcing beam being fixed inside the frame structure, wherein aplurality of reinforcing beams are arranged, and the base platestructure further comprises a support beam connected between twoadjacent reinforcing beams; and the battery tray further comprising: areinforcing block, a first end of the reinforcing block being connectedto a corresponding frame in a matching mode, and a second end of thereinforcing block being connected to the reinforcing beam in a matchingmode, so as to fixedly connect the reinforcing beam to the framestructure through the reinforcing block.
 2. The battery tray accordingto claim 1, wherein the first end of the reinforcing block is connectedto the corresponding frame in a concave-convex fit mode.
 3. The batterytray according to claim 2, wherein the first end of the reinforcingblock is provided with a first step portion, a first groove is formed inthe first step portion, and the corresponding frame is provided with afirst protrusion matching the first groove.
 4. The battery trayaccording to claim 3, wherein the top surface of the reinforcing blockis flush with a top surface of the frame provided with the firstprotrusion.
 5. The battery tray according to claim 3, wherein the bottomsurface of the reinforcing block is flush with a bottom surface of theframe provided with the first protrusion.
 6. The battery tray accordingto claim 1, wherein the second end of the reinforcing block is connectedto an end of the reinforcing beam in a concave-convex fit mode.
 7. Thebattery tray according to claim 6, wherein the second end of thereinforcing block is provided with a second upper step portion, a secondupper groove is formed in the second upper step portion, and the end ofthe reinforcing beam is provided with a second upper protrusion matchingthe second upper groove.
 8. The battery tray according to claim 7,wherein a top surface of the reinforcing block is flush with a topsurface of the reinforcing beam provided with the second upperprotrusion.
 9. The battery tray according to claim 6, wherein the secondend of the reinforcing block is further provided with a second lowerstep portion, a second lower groove is formed in the second lower stepportion, and the end of the reinforcing beam is provided with a secondlower protrusion matching the second lower groove.
 10. The battery trayaccording to claim 9, wherein a bottom surface of the reinforcing blockis flush with a bottom surface of the reinforcing beam provided with thesecond lower protrusion.
 11. The battery tray according to claim 1,wherein the inner base plate is provided with a plurality of innerrecesses arranged to accommodate the battery module.
 12. The batterytray according to claim 1, wherein the base plate structure furthercomprises the outer base plate, the outer base plate is fixed inside theframe structure and located on an outer side of the reinforcing beam.13. The battery tray according to claim 1, wherein the inner base plateand the frame structure are fixedly connected together by rivets. 14.The battery tray according to claim 1, wherein an end of the frame isprovided with a matching step, and all the frames match one anotherthrough the matching steps at the ends.
 15. A vehicle, comprising abattery tray and a battery module, wherein the battery tray is thebattery tray of claim 1, the battery tray is connected to the vehicle,and the battery module is mounted at the battery tray.
 16. The vehicleaccording to claim 15, wherein the battery module comprises a pluralityof batteries assembled together side by side.
 17. The vehicle accordingto claim 16, wherein the battery is a hard shell battery.
 18. Thevehicle according to claim 17, wherein the hard shell battery comprisesan electrode assembly and a housing, an accommodating cavity formedinside the housing is configure to accommodate the electrode assembly.